Focus on the ICAEW: Izza's first 100 days. By Rob Lewis

Good , keep it all up all the time for benefit of us for all the good idealistic plans all coming along so good and strategic and managed.

All opposition fail now proven all opposition wrong. Izza sure correct and strategic good too.

I'm sorry but I have never heard of this bloke. There are so many professional institutes and associations of accountants that the ICAEW is not as important as some people seem to think it is.

If "Izza" wants to make a name for himself then he should spearhead mergers and amalgamations between the accountancy bodies.

Where are the questions about Izza's blog, the busted search on the dayglo website beneath which the rich treasure trove of information of library information remains largely hidden? What about the recent breakdowns of the ICAEW website?

Just to add to the article and the debate about the international arena there are a couple of initiatives which have not been mentioned and could have an impact in the future being pursued by the Michael Izza and the team at the ICAEW:

1. the European Common Content project - this was the brainchild of the gifted former Director of Education & Training, Brian Chiplin together with past President Peter Wyman. In essence it creates a standard syllabus for key European accounting bodies thus making it easier to move within the EU for qualified accountants
http://www.commoncontent.com/

2. the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) - which "..was created to promote quality services, share information and collaborate on important international issues.." This only came to fruition due to the enthusiasm and drive of the ICEAW team.
http://www.globalaccountingalliance.com/Alliancebodies1.html

Since merger is still in the air, I suggest ICAEW give AIA a shot.

I am certain its members would want to join ACA. However, this offer shall be limited to AIA members who are in good standing for seven years, to be fair.

This certainty would give ICAEW a more eager and high stamina outlook at merging with the rest of the bodies.

AIA has foreign international arm. Is ICAEW's overseas market penetration seemingly very promising in attracting students and members via the Examination of Experience paper entry?

Thus, the combined force of AIA and ICAEW could work well in this aspect.

How about giving the AIA a thought in the merger plan of the ICAEW?

If DTI were to have recognised the few bodies in UK as RQB, it is surprising that the RQBs do not recognised each other equally.

If standards is a problem, then the merger of ICAEW and AIA would certainly resolve this issue. I am confident ICAEW can do well in upgrading the AIA members and the upbringing of the merged AIA/ICAEW entity.

It does not appear to have any logic. I bet 100% ICAEW members will come out to vote against the merger with AIA, giving the situation NIL opportunity for further integration plans.

Unless, you are talking about "Smart Alliance". I support that. Let ICAEW council decide in favour of absorbing the AIA members who are in good standing. I am sure many, if not all, will support this absorbtion exercise.

The only next thought is how many members will remain in AIA to support its existence after the "absorbtion exercise". By the mass reduction of members crossing over to ICAEW, the administrative council and staff would also need downsizing.

And finally....then only can you consider the "take-over" of the AIA. This plan sounds more realistic than another merger failure cost of GBP 1 mil, by my estimate.

While the ballooning membership of ACCA is a concern, the ICAEW must at all times maintain its prestige and standard. I would recommend the following memberships be recognised for direct admission to ACA membership (non-practising rights) without condition : - CPA Ireland, ICPAS, CICPA, MICPA, CPA (A). These professional bodies has met the highly acclaimed international standards in accountancy studies.

I would, however, agree with professor on his suggestion on the condition for admitting AIA members to ACA, ie 7 good standing years of membership with the AIA, coupled with constant monitoring of its members' standards and CPD.

Sometimes, it like this than like that.

You see, very far remote obvious things happen in this world. Like AIA wrote letter IFA member and ask them join membership direct entry few year before.

ICAEW can also go down do like this for benefit of everybody gains.

Not to surprise everybody including myself, I conclude saying, what would I do if ICAEW offer absorbing AIA direct into membership like this - ie ACA?

May I ask if this being carried out, would it enable flexibility as far as non-EU accountants are concerned.

Slipped my mind earlier, I thought the motion to merge AIA with ICAEW could go through, having forgotten the super-power side of the ICAEW members who could just easily vetoed off the motion to null effect...something like the ICAEW/CIPFA case, but could be a bigger margin in this case.

SInce AIA and ICAEW belong to the same RQB recognition of the DTI, if standards are similar, then AIA members would not have problems passing ICAEW's case study paper.

How about allowing all AIA members to write ICEW's case study paper to qualify as ACA? Of course, to practice in the UK, overseas AIA members must meet the criteria set to become one company auditors under CA 1985.

Shall ICAEW lead in the restriction of the use of the description 'Accountant' in UK, just like IAASA had done so?

Narninda, 09 April 2007

best idea flowing already all the time here
Anon, cannot do like that first you know why?
Jean said merge CIPS with AIA first, then get "chartered international accountants status".

I also flow out best ideas for AIA to grab here also - AIA also merge with AAT, then got IFAC status. Low status in IFAC also never mind, can do also for benefit representation Chartered International Accountants in IFAC member body meeting all over the world. Then, AIA CEO can travel all the time for benefit of Chartered International Accountants spread out in this world all over wishing to meet CEO of the AIA.

Jean and Anon, please tell your comments for benefit of all the world internationally spread Chartered Internationally Qualified Accountants - CIQA.

May I propose absorptions of all AIA members into ICAEW?

If later part, ICAEW were to merge with AIA, ICAEW can change its name to Institute of International Chartered Accountants after the merger.

FICA - fellows, AICA- associates, further describing themselves as 'international chartered accountants'.

I am sure all members of AIA will agree without delay.

Stages to take care of :

1) Absorption of AIA members offering them ACA and FCA without conditions

2) As many of the Malaysian AIA members in the far east have not paid up their annual subscriptions, many will take up the ACA offer without delay

3) When sufficient majority of AIA members has been absorbed into ACA, propose a takeover of AIA.

4) Having taken over AIA, ICAEW can change its name to include INTERNATIONAL, making it much more grand to hear and see.

5) Surely, the world would respect all INTERNATIONAL CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS.

Hopefully, easier said than done and get done easy.